Mitt for removing lint and pet hair

ABSTRACT

A mitt having two different working surfaces and a multi-step process for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from target surfaces using the inventive mitt, are provided. The inventive mitt is made up of a hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand into the hollow flexible body. The hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like on a target surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/717,130, filed Sep. 14, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention basically relates to a mitt having two different working surfaces for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from surfaces in a multi-step process.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Lint and pet hair may be removed from clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors using a number of known products and techniques.

Prior art products for removing lint and pet hair from the noted surfaces include lint/hair brushes and lint rollers. Lint/hair brushes are popular and do pick up pet hair fairly efficiently. Lint rollers are also popular, but seem more suitable for lint removal instead of pet hair, which usually requires a stronger adhesive. Moreover, lint rollers are not cost effective due to the need to constantly replace the rollers.

Prior art techniques for removing lint and pet hair from these target surfaces include:

-   -   (1) putting on a pair of rubber gloves, dipping the gloves in         cool water, shaking off any excess water, and rubbing the glove         over the surface in a rolling motion;     -   (2) wrapping tape around your hand with the sticky side out and         patting it over the surface to pick up lint and pet hair;     -   (3) running a damp sponge over the surface, using downward         strokes to pick up lint and pet hair;     -   (4) running a sponge over the surface, working in a downward         motion;     -   (5) using a clothes-dryer-softener sheet to collect lint and pet         hair; and     -   (6) using dry nylon bath puffs to remove lint and pet hair from         a surface.         These techniques, while cost effective, are somewhat inefficient         resulting in less than optimal or complete cleaning of the         surface.

Considering the drawbacks inherent in the products and techniques described above, there is a need for a device capable of more thoroughly cleaning a target surface by providing for both the collection and removal of lint and pet hair.

The present invention therefore provides a mitt for removing lint, pet hair, and the like from target surfaces such as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand (or fingers) into the hollow flexible body, wherein the hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like on a target surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface.

The present invention further provides a multi-step process for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from target surfaces such as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises using the inventive mitt described hereinabove for:

-   -   gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like         from the target surface using the means on the palm side surface         of the hollow flexible body of the mitt; and     -   picking up or removing the collected lint, pet hair, and the         like from the target surface using the means on the back or rear         side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill from the following detailed description. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Particular features of the disclosed invention are illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one side of a preferred embodiment of the mitt of the present invention showing the means for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair and the like from a target surface; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opposing side of the mitt shown in FIG. 1 showing the means for picking up or removing the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The mitt of the present invention has two different working surfaces located on opposing sides of the mitt thereby offering not only ease of manipulability and control by virtue of its ability to be worn on a user's hand (or fingers) but also increased functionality. Using the inventive mitt, lint, pet hair, and the like contained on a surface can be both collected and removed thereby achieving a cleaner surface. As will be readily appreciated, collections or clusters of lint and pet hair (as compared to individual particles or hair strands) are far more easily and effectively removed from a surface.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of the present inventive mitt is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. Mitt 10 basically comprises a hollow flexible body 12 defining an opening and having a palm side 14, a coextensive back or rear side 16, and an open end 18 for insertion of a hand into the opening defined by the hollow flexible body 12. Mitt 10 may further comprise a wrist member (not shown) for releasably securing the mitt 10 about the wrist of a user upon placement of the user's hand into the opening defined by the hollow flexible body 12. In one embodiment, the wrist member is an expandable cuff that circumferentially surrounds the open end 18 of the hollow flexible body 12. In another embodiment, the wrist member comprises: coextensive tabs or projections that each emanate from the hollow flexible body 12 extending beyond an outer perimeter thereof near the open end 18, for assisting the user in turning the mitt about the user's wrist; and releasable securing means located on an inner surface or underside of each tab or projection for releasably securing the mitt 10 about the wrist of the user. Preferably, the releasable securing means in this embodiment is of the well known VELCRO hook-and-loop adhesive type variety. In one construction, the hook component is sewn to the underside of one tab or projection, while the loop component is sewn to the underside of the other tab or projection so as to join together when the tabs or projections contact each other.

As best shown in FIG. 1, mitt 10 has means 20 on the palm side 14 for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like on a target surface while, as best shown in FIG. 2, mitt 10 has means 22 on the back or rear side 16 for picking up or removing the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface. Means 22 is also effective for lifting dust, dander and other fine debris from surfaces such as upholstered furniture and clothing.

Means 20 for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair and the like from a surface may be selected from the group of slip resistant materials. A preferred slip resistant material is a rubber material, while a more preferred slip resistant material is a textured rubber or synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene) material.

Means 22 for picking up or removing the collected lint, pet hair and the like from a surface may be a so-called “lint-removing” material selected from the group of cut or uncut loops of fibers, such as natural fibers, synthetic fibers, glass fibers, thread or wool. Preferably, the fibers are nylon fibers. A majority of the fibers are preferably orientated or tilted in one direction. Examples of such materials are well known in the art, such as pile and brush materials, with a preferred material being an engineered nylon material sold by Dalian Corporation, Dalian, China, under the product designation DE-LINT fabric material.

In a more preferred embodiment, the gripping, pulling and collecting means 20 of mitt 10 is a textured synthetic rubber material, and the picking up or removing means 22 is an engineered nylon material having fibers orientated or tilted in one direction.

The hollow flexible body 12 may be constructed as a separate structure having means 20 and 22 affixed to opposing surfaces thereof. Alternatively, palm side 14 and back or rear side 16 of hollow flexible body 12 may be formed using the slip resistant and lint-removing materials of means 20 and 22, respectively.

As noted above, the inventive multi-step process for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from target surfaces, comprises using the inventive mitt for:

-   -   gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like         from the target surface using the means on the palm side surface         of the hollow flexible body of the mitt; and     -   picking up the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the         target surface using the means on the back or rear side surface         of the hollow flexible body of the mitt.

In a preferred embodiment, picking up or removing means 22 of mitt 10 is an engineered nylon material having fibers orientated or tilted in one direction, and the inventive multi-step process further comprises the step of removing lint, pet hair, and the like from the back or rear side surface of the hollow flexible body of mitt 10 by wiping the surface in a direction opposite to the direction of the fibers of the engineered nylon material.

As noted above, picking up and removing means 22 may also be used for lifting dust, dander and other fine debris from target surfaces. When means 22 is an engineered nylon material having fibers orientated or tilted in one direction, collected dust, dander and other fine debris may be removed from the surface of this material by wiping the surface with a damp cloth or sponge in a direction opposite to the direction of the fibers of the engineered nylon material.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 

1. A mitt for removing lint and pet hair from target surfaces such as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand or fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body, wherein the hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface.
 2. The mitt of claim 1, which further comprises a wrist member located near the open end of the hollow flexible body for releasably securing the mitt about a user's wrist upon placement of the user's hand into the opening defined by the hollow flexible body.
 3. The mitt of claim 2, wherein the wrist member comprises an expandable cuff circumferentially surrounding the open end of the hollow flexible body.
 4. The mitt of claim 2, wherein the wrist member comprises: coextensive tabs or projections that emanate from the hollow flexible body extending beyond an outer perimeter thereof near the open end; and releasable securing means located on an inner surface of each tab or projection.
 5. The mitt of claim 4, wherein the releasable securing means comprises a pair of hook and loop members attached opposite one another on the inner surfaces of the tabs or projections.
 6. The mitt of claim 1, wherein the means for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface is selected from the group of slip resistant materials.
 7. The mitt of claim 6, wherein the slip resistant material is a textured synthetic rubber material.
 8. The mitt of claim 7, wherein the textured synthetic rubber material is a textured neoprene material.
 9. The mitt of claim 1, wherein the means for picking up the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface is selected from the group of cut or uncut loops of fibers.
 10. The mitt of claim 9, wherein the means for picking up the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface comprises cut or uncut loops of nylon fibers that are orientated or tilted in one direction.
 11. A mitt for removing lint and pet hair from target surfaces such as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand or fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body, wherein the hollow flexible body has a textured synthetic rubber material on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface, and nylon fiber loops that are orientated or tilted in one direction on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface.
 12. The mitt of claim 11, which further comprises a wrist member, wherein the wrist member comprises: coextensive tabs or projections that emanate from the hollow flexible body extending beyond an outer perimeter thereof near the open end; and releasable securing means located on an inner surface of each tab or projection.
 13. A multi-step process for collecting and removing lint and pet hair from target surfaces using a mitt which comprises a hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand or fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body, wherein the hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface, wherein the process comprises: gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair from the target surface using the means on the palm side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt; and picking up or removing the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface using the means on the back or rear side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt.
 14. The method of claim 13, which further comprises lifting dust and dander from the target surface using the means on the back or rear side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt. 